AgfaPhoto brand makes a comeback with budget cameras and digital albums

This is the company that is doing this. This reminds me of what happened to Vivitar, which went from being the number 1 flash maker to having their name used to hawk corporate gifts they give away to "Salesman of the month" that kind of thing.
http://gtcompany.fr/en/brands/

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Vivitar never made anything but it did design some of what they sold. The flashguns were made by the company now called Panasonic , but I doubt that they were ever N 1. Probably Sunpak was at the time.

Dec 24, 2018permalink

$DiffractionLtd$

Unlikely. You used to go to press conferences, etc., all you'd see were Vivitar 283s and 285s.

Dec 24, 2018permalink

3DSimmon

Moves like this will only add pressure on landfill and recycling depots, not to mention the CO2 footprint, and for what? Nobody wants or needs these outdated products. Stop feeding the chineese troll!

Dec 22, 2018permalink

barrym1966

French and electronics if its anything like their cars I'll pass 😂

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Col Hanzaplast

I am a 61 years old french and I have never heard of GT Company.
You must be french to appreciate french cars subtleties.
It's like cheese, wine and women... :)

Dec 23, 2018permalink

$DiffractionLtd$

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2-7-18-Megapixels-low-price_60546072429.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normalList.71.3ea75b53Ulfjdf

Go into selling garbage cameras and call it a rebirth!!
Have at it:

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Rensol

Stupid move!
Those who know/remember Agfa well know that this garbage has nothing to do with the brand.
Those who were not born at the time do not care about it either.
So the question is how many impulse purchases this brand leasing scam will create? What's next?
Resurrection of ORWO with the moto -
"Same Ol' Shxt in New Package!"
Or
"Yepp, we called it COLOR film"

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Mark Turney

And in other news, Sears Is coming back to life with a catalog business.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

timo

The first 35mm slides I ever took were with my father's Agfa Silette - in 1965. Quite nice little camera, as I recall, although very basic by today's standards. Had to use that thin paper leaflet that came with Kodachrome film, with its diagrams and exposure settings for various lighting situations.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

mxx

I have a soft spot for the original Agfa company, as my first camera was an Agfa Silette L. Unfortunately one of the later cheapish, plasticky ones, but on a good day it took quite nice pictures. Still have it in a cupboard somewhere.

Recently I bought some AgfaPhoto branded batteries, made in PRC, "under license from Agfa-Gevaert".

Dec 21, 2018*permalink

$DiffractionLtd$

Rebranding low-end Chinese garbage is "re-entering" the market? You know anyone can buy 1,2,1000 cheap cameras on Alibaba, have them silk-screened with your name and sell them.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

JekabsBikse

I can't afford to buy that many cameras and i don't think JackPants as a brand would sell well

Dec 22, 2018permalink

MyReality

There is a large demand for "Chinese garbage", Alibaba is larger than Amazon.
China just released their first Aircraft Carrier that is said to be as good as what the US has. Stealing technology can eventually pay off.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

$DiffractionLtd$

Sure. The U.S. F-15 (a 40 year old aircraft) has a 101:0 kill ratio against a myriad of enemy fighters. I think the U.S. is still #1.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

https://www.fotoimpex.com

I have really liked, loved Agfa Scala 200x. Haven't tried the Adox Scala 160 Film - but would do, someday into 2019. ;) And Agfa APX 100 & 400 135 Film also wasn't bad.

For all your Film-related needs, the Fotoimpex Store from Berlin, Germany, english Website goes here, i do think it's the biggest Store about Film Equipment into Europe.

A fine weekend.

Dec 21, 2018*permalink

PostModernBloke

marc, you are literally advertising a shop, with no real relevance to the post.

Is that trolling, or just good old opportunism?

As for the shop - "Make your moments last forever" - not great; a bit 1980s.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

looks to me that Marc is sharing his love for that shop but not as an employee.
Ever seen people going around with a Nike T shirt ?
Most of them don't work for that brand.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Post - try harder, with your cheap troll skills, you can't win.

FYI, i am into no ways attached with Fotoimpex - but some people, like myself, cherish, that something like that still exists into 2018! And enough ppl are shooting "analog" with film these days - something, that Post doesn't understood.

And futher , all my clothes have no brand markings, expect my Jeans, but all sweater, etc - 1st no brand logo in front, and if, i'd put them off. I don't get money to wear some label outside the streets - and i personally can't stand that kind of "brand fetish" some ppl are doing, end of story. People, which specify them-selves over brands, are weak, and freeloaders.

Franco, you're spot on! ;)

Good Light.

Dec 22, 2018*permalink

PostModernBloke

marc -"And enough ppl are shooting "analog" with film these days - something, that Post doesn't understood."
Why would you think that?

"but some people, like myself, cherish, that something like that still exists into 2018! "
I shoot more film than digital. I buy film and lab services from a wide variety of suppliers here in the UK. There are many outlets for analogue photography products.

"For all your Film-related needs, the Fotoimpex Store from Berlin,"
Not at all strange that you provide a hyperlink to this shop, on an international forum.

Imo it's bad practise to promote (by way of a direct link) this or that shop on forums. It might or might not be involve ulterior motives. But it is difficult to accept that by linking to one generic shop among many providing the same services, you are simply promoting analogue photography.

All the best

Dec 24, 2018permalink

Maybe difficult for your way of thinking, not hard at all for me.
I may not be the only one .

Dec 24, 2018permalink

PostModernBloke

"not hard at all for me." - Good for you FrancoD.

"I may not be the only one ." - My gang is bigger than your gang - well argued, well done!

Dec 24, 2018*permalink

Post, it wasn't bad meant at all. Here into germany, many shops have been closed a long time ago - the best, what you can get in terms of film, are way inferior, cheap 08/15 ones, if you need something more specific, you can get it there.

It was as a helpful meaning - not promoting anybody. And yes, whileas iam shooting a few frames a year, a few rolls are enough. Sadly, i don't have a scanner, to get my negatives @home on the drives.

Merry Xmas.

Dec 24, 2018permalink

mmarian

Good old days of Agfa will not be resurected with products which are obsolete before they hit the market

Dec 21, 2018permalink

TheGrammarFairy

Agfa made the greatest film on the planet: Agfachrome. When they went out of business I stopped taking pictures.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Hubertus Bigend

Looting of corpses.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Tim Zhou

Only corporations can die more than once.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Lou Cohen

Boy, I remember a zillion years ago when Agfa made what I considered the best B&W papers around... Portriga Rapid 111 and Brovira. Good memories! Those were the papers I swiched to when DuPont discontinued Defender paper.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Papa48

My Portriga prints still look beautiful. Color prints in albums? Not so much.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Agfa Ultra 50 was the best film they ever did , I loved it.
Also the best BW printing paper double weight fiber Baryta matte

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Please. not again! Mysterious & shady firms buying old, german photography brands, in order to blind customers - that these cr@p would be something from their decades old, well-known brand - but into fact, it's not! It's some lowcost, el cheapo gear.

Our german goverment should prohibit to out-sell the brand names of long known, old photography gear brands - to some dubiose firms, which are doing profit with this, and 08/15 cheap trick stuff under their name.

Good Light.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Marc you are right to defend your country's companies but don't forget how lucky you are ,Germany now is extremely successful ,profitable and your companies are steamrolling most European companies bankrupt into oblivion . Italy is losing thousands of companies every year due to atrocious sky high taxation and absurd overregulations.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

paulfulper.. you know that Germany is pretty socialized, taxed and regulated extensively.. right? What with all those unions and fair labor laws and healthcare and what is it, six week paid vacation every year?

The Italians aren't failing because of taxes or regulations.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Bolton you made good points ,as this is a very complex story to analyze , I see it as , if many countries are put to compete with the same rules eventually 1 will come on top with a better set of choices they made , that is Germany ,once you are on top it doesn't matter anymore if Germany is very unionized ,high taxes , high regulations because the other countries have made worse choices ,they are reeling ,extra debts , companies closing high unemployment and eventually they are enriching Germany for their own failure .socialism only works for those very few who are on top , most socialism countries have terrible lives , also Germans don't have a culture of refusing to work and voting who gives them welfare and subsidies ,that's the ruin of many countries when they have a segment of the population that categorically refuse to work for laziness and wanting government handouts .

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Last but not least ,the European union has become extremely left wing with destructive policies that favor total government control over everything , reduced freedom for all.overregulation ,extreme taxation . Immense welfare .40.000 bureaucrats UNELECTED!! force all europeans to their extremely liberal policies that ruin everything.
European union was borne with very good ideals and policies but eventually took a total turn to the left in what you can call a ( SOROS DREAM )
Life in Italy is absolutely terrible ,almost 3rd world country , I wish they get out of the EU

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Paul, we do pay very high taxes, depending onto your income, and also which tax class you're into - and if you're being married, or not does also play a role.
I do like italian & asian food most.

The Italians are a great nation, but we're not talking about their political system. ;) FYI, gear is way more expensive into germany, than for instance into the USA...and here is no more middle class, only upper, and bottom...many people must do 2 jobs for living & to survive. It's becoming more & more like the USA...into that way. There are many jobs, but into shift mode, and working on weekends also, and for little money.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Karroly

paulfulper,
"Last but not least, the European union has become extremely left wing"
LOL ! Where do you live to say such a non-sense ? In the USA ?
Obviously, we do not have the same definition of "extreme left wing"...
For us, "extreme left wing" are marxists, leninists, trotskyists. The French socialist party is far from that and no longer makes reference to Karl Marx...

Dec 22, 2018*permalink

falconeyes

Marc is right in what he says. Except maybe that action should start at preventing future-relevant companies being sold to China, like Kuka.

And Germany (the South of Germany actually) succeeds not because the rest of the EU struggles. It succeeds because it accepted and accepts to compete globally first. It doesn’t primarily look at the rest of Europe. But at other parts of the world, like California or Shenzhen.

If an Italian even mentions Germany in his analysis of his country’s problems, then this is already part of the problem: it’s always the fault of others ... BTW, some parts of North Italy is doing pretty well too.

Dec 22, 2018*permalink

Paul, I can see you haven't been to France. I have-twice. And I didn't just stick to the tourist traps.. I went walking at night to the poor part of Renne and drank with my fellow working class mates. Their low end is better than someone here who has two jobs and is barely scraping by. Not rich, but definitely not the "terrible lives" to which you attribute socialism. I don't know how to say this nicely: you are factually incorrect about whom a well implemented Democratic Socialist policy set does in fact benefit.

Because it benefits all. There is still Capitalism, there are still rich people. They just have to pay their fair share of taxes-and after the first billion Euros or so, it's fair to ask for quite a bit of those capital gains every year so they don't have to pay for health insurance on their workers like companies somewhat have to do here in the USA. Equal opportunities isn't the same thing as the BS story we're fed here about the class where everyone gets..

Dec 23, 2018permalink

(cont'd) ...the same grade so they all just give up. That's more akin to Communism and even then, it sells that system short.

Unions and regulations aren't the same as "total government control." That's another lie fed to us by our Capitalist masters here in the US of A. Those 450 people who own ninety five percent of the nation's wealth, while we fight for the scraps and blame brown people coming here for a better life.

I'm a small business owner my self, so I understand the profit motive and that it is OK to make money and be successful. But big C Capitalism-where we are taxed to death while the wealthy aren't taxed at all, and we have to work two jobs to live, and die bankrupt from cancer, because we make a morally inferior amount of money..? That's a LIE. It's a lie. It benefits only those at the very top, and our labor makes that capital possible. The only fair means of ensuring that we get a piece is redistributing some of it with taxes and social programs.

Dec 23, 2018permalink

https://www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157692167039004

Not to mention the only Agfa digital SLR, the Actioncam (1995)
See here a comparison with the Kodak DCS 520

Dec 21, 2018*permalink

That was a Minolta RD 175 (1.75 MP) with the Agfa name on it. Apparently Agfa made the software for it.
The other Agfa digital cameras were also rebadged products.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

It's a collaboration between Agfa and Minolta
The camera was distributed by both Minolta and Agfa
https://www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/16857767775/in/album-72157632730404926/

Dec 21, 2018permalink

The software and firmware were from Agfa, the camera was totally designed and made by Minolta. (based on the 500si)

Dec 21, 2018permalink

However, the Agfa ePhoto 1280 and ePhoto 1680 were original products.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157635352973786/with/9655214451/

Dec 21, 2018permalink

made by Sanyo and designed by Rubner Industrial Design. I wonder what the Agfa input was .
(mind you, at the time Sanyo made a LOT of cameras for all sorts of brands and this does not look like a factory product. The type that Sanyo offered to make with minor changes for other brands)

Dec 21, 2018permalink

And what about Agfa Studiocam (1996)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/44697647362/in/album-72157644364384041/

Dec 21, 2018permalink

I thought that it was just a scanner with a lens stuck on the front of it .
(yes that does look like an Agfa only product)

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Corkcampbell

I wouldn't mind something like the small red one that prints as I need an instant camera at times. I couldn't find it online, so perhaps it's just a test balloon, or released under a different name.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

sh10453

It's true that some people never learn.
Couldn't they see what happened to Kodak, Casio, and other small camera manufacturers??? Are they aware of what modern smart phones' cameras can do???
SMH.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Sactojim

As a fyi, the instant print photo market is doing very well. Kodak has licensed their digital camera technology and business to JK Imaging under the Kodak Pixpro name and are doing very well. kodakpixpro.com For my power zoom/bridge cameras, I like them. https://www.flickr.com/photos/125889350@N03

Dec 21, 2018permalink

sh10453

I fully aware of that.
Perhaps it's OK if it was limited to the instant print camera.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Neither Kodak nor Agfa were primarily camera manufacturers, at least not in their heyday. They were film, paper and chemicals manufacturers who marketed cameras probably manufactured by others in order to sell more of the above.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

sh10453

True.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

The name Kodak was registered on the same day George Eastman was granted a patent on camera design.
For decades after that Kodak did design and make their own cameras.
From the mid 20's to the late 80's Agfa also made their own cameras.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Primarily, Franco, primarily. Yes, they did manufacture cameras. But that was not their primary business.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Yes but at some point Kodak was making and selling more cameras than the rest ....

Dec 22, 2018permalink

Primarily has different meanings. It could mean their starting business , I pointed out that the name Kodak was registered on the day Gerorge Eastman received his patent on some camera design (basically having the film loaded inside the camera, a new design at the time) Primarily of course can and often does mean the main business however primarily Canon is not a camera company in that sense but few would argue that point if Canon stopped making cameras.
Like it or not from the Box Brownie to the Instamatics, in numbers of camera sold, Kodak dominated for decades the camera market.

Dec 22, 2018*permalink

TwoMetreBill

It is easy to understand why they went broke, delivering products that nobody wants.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

(unknown member)

Which products are you referring to? You mean film, paper, and chemicals that formed the basis of the company for 100 years? The famous Rodinal, which was patented in 1891, and is still in production by Adox? Go ahead, tell us some more about these products that no one wanted.

Dec 22, 2018permalink

fluppeteer

Well, good luck to them, but I agree that third parties competing for the residual "phone camera without a camera" market aren't going to make massive profits, even trying to differentiate themselves with what was a known brand twenty years ago. If it were a little cheaper and could go after the "leave it on tables at weddings" market, maybe.

I still have my ePhoto 1680 (and buying it was how I found dpreview in the 1990s). Took seconds to turn on, had a shutter lag of a second or so, and killed four AA batteries in not much time, but it was briefly quite a competitive product. Still, I recently found some shots of my elderly deceased-last-year cats back when they were kittens, taken with it - the camera you have with you, as the saying goes.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

semorg

Who would use these over smartphones
In their pockets?
Maybe the one with a printer has some differentiation. They should have just done that

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Any link to where this information comes from? Any AGFA release page? Any GY release page? Any references at all to those cameras?

Dec 21, 2018permalink

http://gtcompany.fr/en/marque/agfa-photo-en/

Not a whole lot of info, but that might be all that is public right now.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Thanx.

My paper based photo album are 10 inch (25 cm) square and contains lots of images on both sides. Those digital photo albums, I would not call albums. They are just viewers.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Well ... what do you use a paper photo album for? Viewing pictures. What is the difference, really?

With an average thickness of around 5/1,000” per sheet, enough physical pages to fill up one of these electronic albums would be 20” thick (51cm). for the paper alone, never mind the “receiving” sheets. It would weigh ... a lot.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

faberryman

What's next? VHS tapes and batteries? Bitcoin offerings?

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Kodak tried to make their own bitcoins and a special hardware for making them. I have no idea where that went.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

@Roland Karlsson: My guess is, stock went up (because it was at that time where anything bitcoin made your stock go up) and product failed, since we haven't heard from it again recently. Stock down again.

Bitcoin on VHS tape sounds like an interesting idea, though. Store it in your basement and who knows what it'll be worth in a few years. /s

Dec 21, 2018permalink

If I leave my VHS deck on record all night, will it produce full tapes that I can trade for heroin?

Dec 21, 2018permalink

The BitCoin computer thing was from Spotlite USA, one of the companies that has the right to use the Kodak name.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

entoman

Oh here we go again, another buy out of a once revered brand name, so someone with (probably) poor products and no photographic history can make a bit of money.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

cosinaphile

with some success perhaps they will create a 1.1\7 or 2\3 sensor compact

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Menneisyys

too bad they don't come back with film - for example (relatively) inexpensive Super8.

While I know their color emulsion doesn't age well (major color shifts even after 30 years with everything they manufactured in the 60's and later*), now that Kodachrome is out of question and I don't have very good experience with Ektachrome (WRT color fidelity during aging), even Agfa's (past) quality would be sufficient.

Particularly if it were significantly cheaper than that of current Kodak (the only S8 film producer now) offerings. The latter are just too expensive making my S8 cameras (e.g., the 1014XL) unused, unlike my Std8 and DS8 ones.

*: earlier Afga color material (I have a lot of color Agfa Std8 films from the 1950's and they've aged well, without any bluish cast) have no color shift problems, only later ones.

Dec 21, 2018*permalink

TwoMetreBill

The environment is being polluted enough. Bring back film and burn coal, gas and diesel. After all, we all hate our children.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Mortal Lion

I used to have a agfamatic 1000 as a kid. It had really poor iq.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Aoi Usagi

Lets just be happy its not a crowdfunded campaign.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

"digital photo and video albums" These seem to be digital picture frames with a cover on them. Seems like a tough sell when most eyes are already locked on smartphones and tablet devices.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

BlueBomberTurbo

Not to mention a bit unwieldy. Hopefully they have an option to remove the cover.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

You cannot really use your smart phone or tablet as a photo frame. Neither in your home nor at an office.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

BlueBomberTurbo

Why not with a tablet? I have 3 tablets (2 Android, 1 Windows) lying around that mostly do nothing. I can see a phone not being usable, but unless you do your work on a tablet, or it's AMOLED, no reason you can't dock it with a photo slideshow when not in use.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

OK - I shall try to say it clearer. Just because it soon is Xmas. For most people a dedicated photo frame makes more sense, if they want a permanent photo frame, on the wall or standing on a cupboard.

Of courser, there is a compromise, called media tab that is only twice the price of a photo frame.

And, of course, you can use your tablet as photo frame, except there is no frame, but maybe you can add one somehow?

Moreover, I think you will get battery problems with your tablet?

Moreover, you can get a thin 27 inch photo frame for a rather reasonable cost, including the frame.

Moreover, not everyone have a bunch of tablets laying around that can be converted into photo frames, including frame and method for hanging on a wall.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

Hmm... I went looking for that 27 inch photo frame, found only 17 inch. One decently reviewed model costs $200. For that kind of money, it's rather tempting to get a 27 inch computer monitor and hang a $10 40x60 print on my wall.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

https://www.amazon.com/Meural-Canvas-Digital-Leonora-Display/dp/B077943834

Dec 21, 2018permalink

But Roland, no one here is talking about 27” photo frames except you. Why would you equate such a large thing with a small album as discussed in the article, or even being such a thing into the conversation? There really is no relationship between the battery-operated devices from the article and the wall-mount frame you brought up.

I’d really like to understand why you thought the frames relevant.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

When is Agfa not an Agfa? When it no longer exists.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

What is an Agfa? And what do it mean to be an Agfa? When did Agfa really stop making Agfa cameras? I mean themselves.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

@Roland, Its stated quite clearly in the article and Agfa cameras today are as Kodak cameras made today, neither companies actually make the cameras. "Agfa-Gevaert used to be an important player in the consumer camera space, but the company failed to keep up with digital developments and in 2004 the consumer imaging division was bought out by management and transferred into the Germany-based AgfaPhoto GmbH.
The new company filed for bankruptcy just one year later, however, and these days the Agfa brand is licensed by holding-firm AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH." "The brand [Agfa] has been licensed to French electronics sellers GT Company"

Dec 21, 2018permalink

@Beshkno: You should not make the automatic assumption that the products will be terrible just because it isn't the original company making them.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

@Leandros, Where did I say or imply they are terrible???????

Dec 21, 2018permalink

My question was a bit deeper than that. You can take Hasselblad. Is a Hasselblad today a Hasselblad? In what sense is it a Hasselblad, and in what sense is it not a Hasselblad?

And Pentax? Are the cameras made today Pentax? The original Pentax company exist no more, and it is Ricoh that owns the right to Pentax.

Is Pentax an idea or simply a brand name. And how much is Walt Disney Walt Disney today?

Dec 21, 2018permalink

I'd say Walt Disney is a bunch of george-sighted luke-ass pixar jobs, but what do I know?

Dec 21, 2018permalink

@Roland, I think you're missing the point entirely. Agfa, like Kodak do not make cameras any longer. Both have no facilities to make them. Both license their name to other companies which make cameras and other products using the brands name. Most people likely understand this. I never said Agfa or Kodak are the only ones who no longer make their own products, however, theres no comparison to Hasselblad or Pentax. Hasselblad makes cameras, they design them and they make them. Pentax is now owned by Ricoh but design criteria and some former factories and emplyoees are still producing cameras.

Dec 21, 2018*permalink

There were rumours that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen but that is not true.
So there is less of Walt now then there used to be.

Dec 21, 2018permalink

aris14

A brand remains a brand, no matter who owns it, if this brand can deliver its products as they meant to be based upon the comprehension of its clients of its original vision and aim accompanied from the perceived quality of its products. It's a matter of buyer/investor's strategical choice depending on numerous factors whether an original brand name will be kept or not (Sony/Minolta as to Ricoh/Pentax).

Dec 22, 2018permalink

@Beshkno - exactly! Is designing clothes making clothes - when the actual making is outsource to some factory in Thailand? Yes and no is the answer. The answer is fuzzy.

Dec 22, 2018permalink